Shoe-expanding appliance



' Mar.20,1923. 1,449,287.

A. H. KEYS.

SHOE EXPANDING APPLIANCE.

nuzo MAR. 22, 1922.

u [NVENTUH WE T E MNMEHMMYE 1m 147 E Mar. 230, i923 atented t will)SHUE-EXPANDING' APPLIANCE.

Application filed March 22, 1922.

To all 'z r/lmnit may (saucer-n:

Be it known that I. Annxama. H. KnYs a citizen of the United States, andresident ot San Francisco, county of an Francisco, and State(Jaliiornia, have invented a new and useful Improvement inShoe-Expanding Appliance. oi which the toliowing is a specification.

My invention relates to an appliance for use by individuals forexpanding sioes so that the same may be made to more comfortably lit thefeet, particularly in cases where a person is trou led w ith corns orbani, nother character of my invention resides in appliance which mayperform the function of a shoe tree for main taining the shape of a shoewhen the same is not in use.

The invention possesses other features which will clearly appear as thedescription now proceeds with reference to the practical embodiment ofthe invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in whichFigure 1 a longitudinal section of the appliance, Figure 2 is a view inside elevation oi" th, a pliance, Figure 3 is a horizontal section ofthe appliance, Figure 4% is a detail view of an accessory used inconnection with the appliance and Figure 5 is a detail pers 'iectivcview of still another accessory for use in connection with theappliance.

Referring now to the drawing in detail. ll propose to construct theappliance with an irre;, ;ular shaped ttranie 1) made preferably from ametal band and shaped as best shown in Figure 3, so as to conformsubstantially to the inside of a shoe.

Rivetcd or otherwise fired as at to the back of the frame (1) is ahandle (3) made as a convenient means of inserting the appliance in theshoe and withdrawing the ame therefrom. Pivotally fixed to a transve'serod (a) which is fastened to opposite .ades of the frame (1) is a leverthe same having a tulcruined point on the rod (4) at pivotal connect-iontherewith, so t the rod may be rocked back and forth aiive to the frame.The lower part of the rod is made in the form of a U with its pivotalconnection with the rod made substantially in the middle of the U sothat he end (6) may terminate in an upwardly L presented end and leavinga handle (7) at the opposite end prqectmg above the frame to be engagedby the hand or" the individual Serial No. 545,735.

for manipulating the lover. The end (6) is threaded and made to receivea threaded cap (8) for increasing or decreasing the end (6 l turning thecap up or do n on the screw threads.

Ranged on opposite sides or the fa. me (1) in back of the rod (4:) areupstanding bearings (9) each one having a key-hole slot (10) made toreceive the shanks (ll) of the expanding heads (12). shanks (11) of eachof the expanding heads is a member (13) which is received in the slottedpart of the keyhole slot to prevent the shanks (ll) from turning in thebearhip; thus maintaining the ex anding heads (12) fixed against turningrelative to the frame, at the same time leaving them free to bewithdrawn at will. The expanding heads (12) may be made in variousshapes as best shown in Figure 3, the one on the left of the frame isshorter than the one on the right of the frame. To prevent wob bling ofthe lever the rod is made with sleeves (4!) on each side of the pivotalconnection of the lever which holds the lever in the c cnter of theframe and prevents the same from sliding alongthe rod. Arrangedpreferably as an integral part oi thov lever and projecting forwardlythereof adjacent its pivotal connection on the rod l) is a wedge shapedblock (14-), the same moving; in an orbit around the pivotal con nectionout the lever and made to have a wiping connection with the ends of theshanks (11) of the expanding); heads so as to force the same outwardlyagainst the sides of the shoe when the lever 1S pulled down toward thehandle (3) so that the leather or material of the shoe may be stretchedwithin restricted area for relieving pressure on a corn or bunion whenthe shoe worn. The expanding heads (12) icrchanged one with the other orcro ids o1 dishapes 13 he used I be done away with altogether if theiruse is not required. Hinged to the front of the frame (1) is a frog thesame being curved in cross section and adapted to overlie the frame fora greater part of its length and with the cap (8) made tocontact withthe underside of a frog so to raiseand lower the same according to therelative position of the lever. The frog is used for expanding orstretching positions and the desired efiectiveness of the Arranged onthe (17 thereof made to be inserted in any one of a series of holes (18)arranged at intervals practically throughout the surface of.

the frog or at least along both sides thereof so that the button may beused in combination with any one of the holes according to theparticular area of the shoe affected.

In using the appliance the lever is moved to a position as best shown inFigure 2 so that the frog (15) is lowered. It is then inserted into theshoe with the expanding heads (12) attached or detached as desired andalso with or withoutthe button (16) and when it has been placedinposition in the shoe the lever is pulled back as best shown in Figure 1in dotted lines, thus raising the frog (15) and imparth ig an outwardthrust to the expanding heads. The button being carried by the frogperforms it's functionas previously explained. Since the lever inbeingpulled back to its extended position will be past dead center at itspivotal pointthe same will be maintained in this. position until it ispushed forward again. From the above it will be readily that I haveproduced not only a convenient and practical shoe tree but that I havealso provided means for expanding or stretching H I. the shoe andarranged means for relieving the tension of theshoe-on corns' andbunions by the accessory which I use incombination with the appliance.The appliance may be cheaply produced and since it is made of metal itwill wear exceeding well and prove a most practical appliance for itsintended use.

I claim:

1. In an appliance of the class described, a frame, a frog pivotallyconnected at the front of the frame and adapted to move above the samein a horizontal angular plane and means for moving and holding the froginan elevated horizontal angular plane relatively of the frame,comprising a lever pivotally connected to the frame having one endcontacting with the underside of the frame and means for adjustingthecontact of the lever end with the under side of the frog, comprisingadjustable means carried bythe end of the lever and made to provide acontact between the lever end and the run der side of the frog. I

'2. In an appliance of the class described a frame, a fro pivotallyconnected at the front of the frame and adapted to move above the samein a horizontal angular plane and. means for moving and holding the'frog in an elevated horizontal angular plane relatively of the frame,comprising a lever pivotally connected to the frame having one endcontacting with the under side of the frame and means foradjusting thecontact of the lever end with the under side of the frog comprising acap threaded to the end ofthe lever and inadeto provide a contactbetween ethelev'er end and the under side of the frog and means on theframe actuated by the lever for expanding restricted areas of the shoesubstantially as and for the purpose described;

' ALEXANDER H. KEYS.

